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New record of Carpenter bees (Hymenoptera:
Apidae: Xylocopinae) from Bhutan
Phurpa Dorji1*, Wim Klein2 & Tshering Nidup1
1School of Life Science, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan,
Kanglung, Bhutan 2Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
| Received: 25 July 2016 | Accepted: 27 September 2016 |
ABSTRACT
A total of seven species under the genus Xylocopa, Xylocopa (Platynopoda) latipes (Drury), Xylocopa
(Platynopoda) magnifica (Cockerell), Xylocopa (Cyaneoderes) acutipennis Smith, Xylocopa (Ctenopoda)
fenestrata (Fabricius), Xylocopa (Nyctomelitta) tranquebarica (Fabricius), Xylocopa (Orbitella) aestauns
Lepeletier and Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) collaris binghami Cockerell, are recorded for the first time from Bhutan.
Key Words: Xylocopa, Carpenter bees, new record, Xylocopinae.
INTRODUCTION
Xylocopa genus are commonly known as carpenter
bees as it dwells in the woods, bamboos and even
in the ground by making tunnels (Lucia, Gonzalez,
& Abrahamovich 2015; Solomon Raju &
Purnachandra Rao 2006). Belonging to the
subfamily Xylocopinae, it is differentiated from
other bees in having three sub-marginal cells with
second sub-triangularly elongated, 6-jointed
maxillary palpi, posterior tibiae densely pubescent,
ocelli in a triangle and labrum only slightly exerted,
not prominent (Bingham 1897). These are robust,
large and hairy bees, and are encountered
throughout the year, foraging on varieties of
flowers both during the day and moonlit night
(Solomon Raju & Purnachandra Rao 2006). It helps
in pollinating variety of flowers (Giannini et al.
2015) however, some species are nuisance and
intimidating to people. They produce loud buzzing
sound when flying and nesting. They also drill
numerous tunnels and as a result, weaken the
nesting timber which may bring about collapsing of
the structures (Lucia et al. 2015).
More than 450 species under genus Xylocopa were
reported globally (Michener 2007). Despite
conspicuously large size and its ecological and
economic importance, no taxonomic study has been
done on Carpenter bees in Bhutan. This paper
reports seven species of Xylocopa from Bhutan as
new record.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Only adult specimens were collected during the
year 2014 – 2016 in Bhutan. Specimens were
mounted dry and morphological examinations
done with stereoscopic microscope (Olympus,
Tokyo). Nikon D3300 with attached AF-S Micro
Nikkor 40 mm macro lens was used for taking
photographs, digital Vernier caliper nearest to 0.01
mm used for the measurements of body length, and
Garmin eTrex 10 for recording geographical
coordinates and elevation above sea level.
Geographical coordinates were provided in decimal
degrees, and elevations above sea level (Alt.)
Published by www.researchtrend.net
Journal on New Biological Reports JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online)
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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107
provided in meters (m). Descriptions and keys
provided by Bingham (1897), Bodlah et al. (2015),
Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch (2012), Hannan,
Alqarni, Owayss, & Engel (2012), Maa (1938,
1970), Michener (2007), & Sharma, Kumar, &
Gupta (2016) were used for taxonomic
identification. The specimens were deposited in
Zoology Museum, Sherubtse College, Bhutan.
1. Xylocopa (Platynopoda) latipes (Drury)
Fig.1: A & B
Diagnosis: Body with black or sooty-brown
pubescence; length more than 30 mm; scutellum
and postscutellum sharply marked off from the
succeeding segments by a distinct ridge of varying
height; inner orbits of eyes converging at the upper
extremities; gastral tergum II-VI with very sparsely
pubescent; anterior metatarsi greatly dilated;
pubescence on outer surface of anterior metatarsi
purely brownish yellow to yellowish white; wings
with bluish tints; vein r-m complete; scape of
antennae distinctly flattened and broad at apex;
outer teeth of mandibles apically blunt; major
apical spur of posterior tibiae apically weakly
bifurcate. Length: 2 ♂: 32.56 – 33.31 mm.
Materials examined: Bangtar, Samdrup Jongkhar
(91.6852°E, 27.8977°N, Alt. 258 m): 2♂ collected
by Tshering Nidup & Phurpa Dorji on 19.vii.2015
along the highway to Dewathang.
Distribution: Bhutan (Samdrup Jongkhar),
Myanmar, Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo,
China, Siam, Java, Amboina, Philippines, India,
Vietnam (Ashmead 1904; Bingham 1897; Long,
Hue, Hoa, & Phong 2012; Maa 1938)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan.
2. Xylocopa (Platynopoda) magnifica (Cockerell)
Fig.1: C – F
Diagnosis: Similar to X. latipes in body size and
color; body with black or sooty-brown pubescence;
length more than 30 mm; male: inner orbits of eyes
converging at the upper extremities; gastral tergum
II-VI with very sparsely pubescent; anterior
metatarsi greatly dilated; scape of antennae
distinctly flattened and broad at apex; outer teeth of
mandibles apically pointed; major apical spur of
posterior tibiae simple; female: wings apically with
strong golden iridescence. Length: 1♀: 30 mm; 1♂:
28.75 mm.
Materials examined: Gyelpoishing, Mongar
(90.1400°E, 27.0066°N, Alt. 565 m): 1♂ collected
by Tshering Nidup, Thinley Gyeltshen & Phurpa
Dorji on 17.vi.2015 near Dam area; Nangkor, Pema
Gatshel (27.02111°N, 90.34583°E, Alt. 1434 m):
1♀ collected by Tshering Nidup & Tshewang
Dendup on 12.vii.2015 nearby village.
Distribution: Bhutan (Mongar, Pema Gatshel),
India (Maa 1938)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan
3. Xylocopa (Cyaneoderes) acutipennis Smith
Fig. 2
Diagnosis: Body with black or sooty-brown
pubescence; scutellum and postscutellum sharply
marked off from the succeeding segments by a
distinct ridge of varying height; male: inner orbits
of eyes converging at the upper extremities;
anterior metatarsi not dilated; clypeus apically
with a sharp median emargination; posterior femora
ventrally with a spine-like strong projection;
female: upper orbital distance is less than the
lower; gastral tergite I thickly pubescent; postgenae
very sparsely punctate; dorsum of thorax with
black hairs. Length: 1♀: 25.25 mm; 1♂: 24.06 mm.
Materials examined: Nangkor, Pema Gatshel
(27.02111°N, 90.34583°E, Alt. 1434 m): 1♂
collected by Tshering Nidup & Tshewang Dendup
on 12.vii.2015 near by the village; Sipsoo, Samtse
(27.0425°N, 88.88639°E): 1♀ collected by
Tshering Nidup, Phurpa Dorji & Thinley Gyeltshen
on 13.v.2015 along the high way.
Distribution: Bhutan (Samtse, Pema Gatshel),
India, Nepal, Myanmar, Tenasserim (Bingham
1897; Maa 1938)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan.
4. Xylocopa (Orbitella) aestauns Lepeletier
Fig. 3
Diagnosis: Scutellum sharply marked off from
postscutellum by a distinct ridge of varying height,
its posterior portion projecting over postscutellum
which lies at a much lower level; male: median line
of posterior femora ventrally with a spine-like
process at the base which is little blunt apically;
female: supraclypeal region and clypeus more or
less distinctly elevated near their junction; thorax
dorsally covered with yellow hairs; postscutellum
with a patch of yellow hairs medially; postgenae
with a few whitish hairs; anterior tibiae with a few
yellow hairs on outer surface. Length: 1♂ 20.58
mm; 2♀: 21.48 -22.54 mm
Materials examined: Nganglam; Pema Gatshel
(91.2494°E, 26.8355°N, Alt. 133 m): 2♀ & 1♂
collected by Tshering Nidup, Phurpa Dorji &
Thinley Gyeltshen on 11.v.2015 from the
Nganglam Lake near Nganglam Primary School.
Distribution: Bhutan (Pema Gatshel); India; Sri
Lanka,Tenasserim, Myanmar, Ceylon, Malaya,
Sumatra, Andaman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Philippine, Vietnam (Ashmead 1904;
Bingham 1897; Hannan et al. 2012; Long et al.
2012; Maa 1938; Soh & Ngiam 2013; Wijesekara
2001)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan.
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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Fig. 1. A & B. Lateral and frontal views of Xylocopa latipes male; C & D. Lateral and frontal views of X.
magnifica male; E & F. Lateral & frontal views of X. magnifica female.
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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Fig. 2. X. acutipennis: A, B & C. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of male; D, E & F. Dorsal, lateral & frontal
views of female.
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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Fig. 3. X. aestuans: A, B & C. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of male; D, E & F. Dorsal, lateral & frontal
views of female.
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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Fig. 4. X. collaris binghami: A, B & C. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of male; D, E & F. Dorsal, lateral &
frontal views of female
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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Fig. 5. A & B. Dorsal and frontal views of X. fenestrata male; C & D. Dorsal and frontal views of X.
tranquebarica female.
5. Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) collaris binghami
Cockerell Fig. 4
Diagnosis: Male - Frontal carina abbreviated, not
coming below the base of the clypeus; body black
with following parts pale yellowish white: clypeus,
sides of the face, front below the anterior ocellus, a
broad line be the eyes over the vertex and scape of
the antennae; pubescence on the vertex, pronotum,
sides of the thoraxanteriorly, front of the
mesonotum, anterior legs and basal one or two
gastral tergites ochraceous; wings subhyaline,
lightly fuscous with purple effulgence. Female:
head and abdomen very finely and closely punctate,
less densely punctate on the disc of mesonotum and
on scutellum; a distinct fine medial vertical carina
from the apex of clypeus to between the base of the
antennae, continued as a furrow to the anterior
ocellus; body black with black pubescence except
pronotum, sides of thorax anteriorly, front of
mesonotum with erect dense white pubescence;
wings dull fuscous with moderate purple
effulgence. Length: 2♂: 17.97 mm; 1♀: 19.76 mm.
Materials examined: Pangbang, Zhemgang
(26.8435°N and 90.99297°E, Alt. 390 m): 2♂
collected by Phurpa Dorji, Thinley Gyeltshen &
Tshering Nidup on 15.iv.2016 from Klawagang
stream. Bangtar, Samdrup Jongkhar (27.8977°N
and 91.6852°E, Alt. 258 m): 1♀ collected by
Tshering Nidup & Phurpa Dorji on 19.vii.2015
along the highway to Dewathang.
Distribution: Bhutan (Samdrup Jongkhar,
Zhemgang), India, Burma, Tenasserim, Ceylon,
Malayan, Thailand, Tibet (Bingham 1897; Maa
1938)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan.
6. Xylocopa (Ctenopoda) fenestrata (Fabricius)
Fig. 5: A & B
Diagnosis: Scutellum and postscutellum running
gradually into the succeeding segments; median
ocillus rounded; knee caps on posterior tibiae
bifurcate; spiracular tubercles on gastral tergite III
with teeth-like projection; epipygium apically with
two pointed tooth-like projections; anterior and
lateral portions of mesonotum and spiracular
tubercles on II tergite with white hairs; outer
surface of anterior metatarsi with sooty brown
hairs. Length: 1♂: 21.35 mm.
Materials examined: Bangtar, Samdrup Jongkhar
(91.6852°E, 27.8977°N, Alt. 258 m): 1♂ collected
by Tshering Nidup & Phurpa Dorji on 19.vii.2015
along the highway to Dewathang.
Distribution: Bhutan (Samdrup Jongkhar), Nepal,
India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tenasserim, Ceylon,
Celebes, Pakistan, Colombo, Persia, Mesopotamia,
Mauritius, Madagastar, Andaman, Saudi Arabia,
Dorji, Klein and Nidup JNBR 5(3) 106 – 113 (2016)
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113
Israel (Bingham1897; Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch
2012; Hannan et al. 2012; Maa 1938; Wijesekara
2001)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan
7. Xylocopa (Nyctomelitta) tranquebarica
(Fabricius) (Fig. 5: C & D)
Diagnosis: Scutellum running gradually into
postscutellum, only separated by a suture; posterior
portion of scutellum never projecting over the
postscutellum which is at almost same level;
epipygium medially furrowed; knee-caps of
posterior tibiae bifurcate; ocelli enlarged, median
ocellus elliptical; clypeal suture S-shaped; inter-
antennal distance a little longer than antenna-ocular
distance. Length: 4♀: 23.14 - 24.95 mm.
Materials examined: Bangtar, Samdrup Jongkhar
(91.6852°E, 27.8977°N, Alt. 258 m): 4♀ collected
by Tshering Nidup & Phurpa Dorji on 19.vii.2015
along the highway to Dewathang.
Distribution: Bhutan (Samdrup Jongkhar), India,
Myanmar, Ceylon, Tenasserim, Thailand (Burgett,
Sukumaland, & Vorwohl 2005; Maa 1938;
Wijesekara 2001)
Remarks: New record for Bhutan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are very grateful to Bhutan Trust Fund
for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC),
Thimphu for funding and National Biodiversity
Centre (NBC), Serbithang for coordinating the
project. Special thanks also to Mr. Thinley
Gyeltshen, School of Life Science and Mr.
Tshewang Dendup, School of Physical Science,
Sherubtse College for helping us with the
collection of specimens.
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